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Upon seeing the ring on Rojen's hand, the original King's Bodyguards, led by Asi, showed even greater reverence. Some even lowered their heads, daring not to meet Rojen's gaze.
Before them stood the true King!
"Your Majesty, will you ascend the throne immediately upon your return?" Asi asked, his voice trembling with excitement.
Rojen glanced at Asi and the others behind him, their anticipation and excitement palpable.
"Indeed," Rojen nodded. "This King's Kingdom cannot be allowed to remain in the hands of another!"
He spoke without hesitation. To him, a King's power was inviolable. The immense foundation, coupled with the endless resources supported by an entire nation, was an invaluable asset.
"Excellent! The King's Bodyguards will pledge our full support to you!" Asi exclaimed, his voice ringing with renewed vigor.
"Very good!" Rojen nodded. "Are there any others?"
Rojen pressed further.
"Yes! There's also Torons, the First Potionist from years ago, and Chief Instructor Salowizard!" Asi replied quickly.
"Hmm!" Rojen nodded, signaling him to continue. But after a long silence, nothing more came.
"That's it?" he asked, genuinely shocked.
To his astonishment, Asi nodded awkwardly.
'Is this all the support the True King has?' Rojen thought, incredulous. 'What a joke! This is a vast Kingdom! From the skies, the six interconnected islands stretch out, covering an area nearly comparable to Alabasta!'
"The powerhouses are just the three of us," Asi explained, his tone hurried. "The rest are mages and magic scholars, totaling around two thousand. They haven't fully assembled yet, since Salowizard only issued the summons recently."
"Two thousand? That's not bad," Rojen nodded.
As Rojen advanced, the crowd behind him swelled, gradually reaching over five hundred people. Beneath their mage hoods, their eyes constantly scrutinized Rojen, the New King, their curiosity palpable.
When they saw his youth and detected no malice in his gaze, they secretly breathed a collective sigh of relief.
The current usurper of the Barut Kingdom was undoubtedly a cruel and ruthless tyrant. Because of this, they had been yearning for someone to overthrow him from the throne.
The massive gathering of over five hundred mages, dark and oppressive like a thundercloud, sent shivers down the spines of the patrolling owl warriors.
"What is this madness?! Have those lunatics gone mad? Gathering so openly and charging straight toward King's Island!" the warrior captain roared in fury, yet hesitated to intervene.
Compared to the warriors' straightforward strength, the abilities wielded by this group were undeniably uncanny.
"Report to the King immediately! Tell him those rebels are plotting another uprising!" the captain bellowed.
The sixth island was dominated by an ancient castle complex. At its heart, topped with a star-studded banner, stood King's Castle.
Inside the castle, Modoray hurried through the halls with Robin and Lordling, guided by a group of mages.
As they approached the grand hall deep within the castle, a plume of black mist erupted from the throne with a bang, revealing a gaunt, withered figure.
"Modoray, His Majesty the King has arrived! Enter quickly!" the mages urged.
Modoray took a deep breath, composed his expression into a fawning smile, and dragged Robin and Lordling inside.
As they advanced along the red carpet, the black mist dissipated, revealing King's true form.
Robin, who had been stealing glances from the corner of her eye, saw the King's face and let out a terrified scream.
"A ghost!"
"Silence!"
Modoray's face darkened instantly. He dropped to his knees with a thump, bowing his head deeply, his body trembling in fear.
"A ghost?" A hoarse voice rasped from the throne.
"Little girl, are you talking about me?"
King reclined on his throne, his emaciated frame draped in a black robe that only accentuated his gauntness. His sunken eyes and collapsed nose were unsettling enough, but what truly horrified was his skin. It resembled the wind-eroded ridges of a mountain, completely dry and cracked, crisscrossed with countless tiny fissures.
His entire face had become utterly inhuman, resembling a demon more than a man.
Robin lowered her head in terror, afraid to speak.
"Modoray, tell me about this girl. What makes her special?"
"If this king is displeased, you know the consequences?" King rasped, his voice laced with mockery.
Modoray trembled violently, unwilling to delay, and blurted out:
"Your Majesty, this girl is named Nico Robin. The World Government has placed an 80 million belly bounty on her head. I thought she would please you, Your Majesty, so I brought her as an offering!"
"80 million?"
King's face stiffened in surprise as he scrutinized Robin intently.
His sleeves rose as his right hand slowly extended forward. With a faint hiss, a venomous snake flicked its tongue into view, then vanished in a flash of light, transforming into a magic staff.
King slowly rose to his feet, taking a single step that brought him directly before Robin. With a swift motion, the magic staff pressed against her chin, forcing her head up.
"Lift your head and let this king see what makes you so special that the World Government would offer an 80 million belly bounty for you."
Under the pressure of King's magic staff, Robin felt a chill run through her body, as if she were being eyed by a venomous snake; one wrong move and she would be devoured. Beside her, Lordling's tail bristled in terror, her heart pounding with uncontrollable fear.
This ghost-like king was absolutely terrifyingly powerful!
Robin's body trembled uncontrollably as the magic staff forced her head up.
"Oh? A very cute little girl. I like her, she's so lively!"
King's smile stretched wide, but it was so sinister it made goosebumps rise on Robin's skin.
Immediately afterward, he turned to face Lordling.
"A shapeshifting cat?"
With a tap of his magic staff, Lordling was completely immobilized. Her Devil Fruit powers were then nullified, forcing her back into human form.
Modoray watched in stunned disbelief as Lordling transformed from a cat into a beautiful woman, his eyes wide with shock.
"You... you're actually a human!"
Lordling dared not move, her forehead drenched in sweat. The king's overwhelming presence crushed her.
'Now I'm really finished! This king is absolutely terrifying!'
"Seastone handcuffs?"
A sinister smile curled at the corner of the king's lips. Another tap of his magic staff, and the cuffs clicked open.
"Beautiful woman, you've awakened a desire for the opposite sex that I haven't felt in thirty years!"
The king's gaze swept over Lordling from head to toe like he was appraising livestock, a predatory glint in his eyes. He licked his lips.
"This king... truly wants to devour you!"
Those words sent a chill through Lordling's entire being.
'This king is absolutely perverted!'
(End Of This Chapter)